This a million times. I write almost everything from my phone for... reasons, mostly having to do with adaptability... and if I gotta write from my laptop, that essay will just hang there, unfinished. Also, to edit a comment... colossal PIA so I just don’t bother.
*accessibility ... see what I mean?? Can’t even recognize the difference between adaptability and accessibility, but we’re pretty used to being an afterthought so don’t feel too badly about your lack of GAF; it’s pretty pervasive throughout the tech world...
Agree! Not only is it refreshing,...it allows fictional characters, like myself, to interact with readers also!! It's fun to jump into a conversation, especially when a reader may be talking about a scene they enjoyed in one of my adventures =)
I'd really like to be able to create new posts on the app, too. The mobile browser interface for writing within a post isn't bad, but having a dedication section on the app for writing would be great.
Given the lag that can exist on the website when you are editing an article (due to CTRL+z history I guess), I advise you to write in another text editor (I used Notion recently) on your smart phone. Preferably one that support the HTML format used by Substack.
Would love an increase in the catégories for the newsletters. I’ve picked health and wellness as one if mine but my focus is really mental health and j feel like it gets lost in the health and wellness category
You too! And nice to see another writing about grief. I had to let mine go, it just wasn't serving me (being the writer) any longer but I'm looking forward to participating in yours ❤️. Grief will always be a part of me.
Would love to see Substack allow readers to search for publications by language, so that all publications written in a particular language (other than English) would pop up. Do you have this feature in the works? Perhaps this could simply involve an improved search function for tags, with writers tagging their publications in the Writers Dashboard with the name of the language in which they are written.
The app is great for podcasts too! I just published one with Fengsuo Zhou, a brave man who was a student leader of the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.
I'm a writer who never uses apps for anything (I hate doing any kind of meaningful or thoughtful work on my phone, and I don't like to be a slave to my devices any more than I already am), but I appreciate the careful, thoughtful nature in which this app has been included.
3/4ths my readers read on email and the ones I’ve had contact with have no idea what Substack is and don’t want to download the app...not sure how to attract more readers on the app?
I don't know if we (writers) need to have a specific strategy for the app itself. I mean, the desktop version of the substack site works well. I do think it's worth spending some time reading, commenting, and generally interacting with other writers, so readers eventually discover you, but I don't think it matters if they're on a website or in an app, as such.
many of my readers don't even use the app or desktop site. They just signed up via my website or social. I've had contact with some of them and they don't want to use either!
I think there's no need to encourage them to download an app or anything, but I do enjoy asking folks to comment. I just want to have a good conversation with them; maybe that's a good middle-of-the-road approach for you?
I'm with you on that. I use my "pages" and write on that, then I copy and paste it to my substack page. I don't have a phone, and don't feel I need one. I don't know if it's because I'm not very "techie", or if it's because it doesn't fit with my character. Maybe it's because I'm just old and see no need to change? I started writing stories in notebooks until I could afford to buy my own typewriter. Then I got an electric typewriter. When I got my first PC I thought: "This is it." The fact I can do all my research on my PC, and write on my 'Pages' program is good enough for me. If people want to read on their phones and download the app for that, that's great. All I do is hit the send button and don't think about it after that. I didn't have a large email list, now I have 260'ish readers. I'm good with that. I'm happy to let my 'Stack send it out and not have to worry about it.
Completely agree! I know many folks who are intelligent (the folks I want to reach) use their devices way differently than I do, and I won't let my early-onset-boomerism get in the way of connecting.
Hi there! I adore the app! Would be so pleased to see dashboard and edit functionality on it for writers one day! As a parent to three small kids, I'm not always able to be glued to my desk, but I do sometimes have free time while out and about to check in on work/writing and would love to be able to do that on the go!
The app has been a terrific driver of traffic and new subscribers for me. After about 50 posts and nearly six months, I am nearing the point of converting pledges to paid subscribers. Loving the Substack culture and ecosystem!
I agree, Matt. I literally just started a week ago and subscribers are flocking. Mind you, some have come from Medium where I also write but I'm tracking the ones coming from the app and I'm pleasantly surprised.
When searching for publications and authors I find the search results don't always pull up what I've typed. Is there a filter tab that could help narrow down a search based on author name, publication name, category of content?
Also when subscribing to a new publication, the recommended publications pop up to subscribe as well but I'm not inclined to subscribe to newsletters I know nothing about.
Is there a way to add the bio under each recommendation?
If I knew more I might subscribe but not because a new author I found recommends.
Just some thoughts.
Also, I am looking to possibly going the paid route and I see monthly yearly and one time payment options but is there a way to donate any amount? Like a non profit option? Or even bi-annually?
Or what about membership for substack monthly that allows for say, 3 publications and then add-ons kind of like Audible...
Not sure what the percentage of writers to readers (who don't have a Substack) is, but I'd like to have some suggestions from the Substack team about how we, as writers, can help bring more readers to Notes. I know we can invite our subscribers. It would be awesome to have some 'marketing speak' to share with subscribers that explained the value of joining Notes, how they can do it, and what they could do once they get there. I'd like to invite my readers gradually, over the course of several of my posts, by creating some value that would entice them to join, rather than simply sending them all an email asking them to sign in to Notes. Not sure if I'm explaining that right, but hopefully you get the idea. It seems to me that more readers on Notes will help continue to make it more viable and exciting. I believe that we would all want to help.
I am super new to the platform (about 1 month in with 26 subscribers) and love the app. I’ve found most of the people I’ve subscribed to so far through it.
I messaged a few friends when I started substack. One texted me this morning just to say how much she loves the app and the way it is set up.
So thank you to the powers that be for creating it.
might you be able to make it possible, please, to use the app to edit our substacks? Rather than having solely do to so via desktop???
This a million times. I write almost everything from my phone for... reasons, mostly having to do with adaptability... and if I gotta write from my laptop, that essay will just hang there, unfinished. Also, to edit a comment... colossal PIA so I just don’t bother.
*accessibility ... see what I mean?? Can’t even recognize the difference between adaptability and accessibility, but we’re pretty used to being an afterthought so don’t feel too badly about your lack of GAF; it’s pretty pervasive throughout the tech world...
Yes!
would make it great to be able to edit wherever we are ...
I can't publish from my Android at all, it is most frustrating
Same here. There is simply no option, even with the latest update.
I second this!
I third this!
Fifth and also to make a first draft on the fly.
Fourth this!
Yes!
This will be great if made possible.
+1
Yes please!
I think this is a good idea but I regularly edit posts from the web app (Safari) on my phone
also: how about, please, being able to make the AI videos of our work easier via a dedicated button rather than having to edit on the whole post?
I love love LOVE no ads on the app. It is so refreshing and makes it a wonderful experience.
No ads on Substack, period, is what makes Substack suuuch a good experience. May it forever stay that way.
Agree! Not only is it refreshing,...it allows fictional characters, like myself, to interact with readers also!! It's fun to jump into a conversation, especially when a reader may be talking about a scene they enjoyed in one of my adventures =)
Ads are the bain of my existence. I refuse to consume ads.
To be fair, the app is great for several reasons.
- No ads
- Smooth UI/UX
If there's anything I would recommend, it'll be the possibility of writers to write on the app and not only read/comment.
I'd really like to be able to create new posts on the app, too. The mobile browser interface for writing within a post isn't bad, but having a dedication section on the app for writing would be great.
Given the lag that can exist on the website when you are editing an article (due to CTRL+z history I guess), I advise you to write in another text editor (I used Notion recently) on your smart phone. Preferably one that support the HTML format used by Substack.
Yeah, I usually write on google docs then transfer. However, Writers can't draft new posts on the app (yet), but I believe the tea, is working on it.
Would love an increase in the catégories for the newsletters. I’ve picked health and wellness as one if mine but my focus is really mental health and j feel like it gets lost in the health and wellness category
A category for Grief and Loss is needed too.
Agreed. I would have loved this category when I was actively writing my grief newsletter.
Nice to see you here fellow Medium writer!
You too! And nice to see another writing about grief. I had to let mine go, it just wasn't serving me (being the writer) any longer but I'm looking forward to participating in yours ❤️. Grief will always be a part of me.
It will always be part of me too...
I second this!
As always, thank you for including writers as part of the conversation as all of this develops!
Would love to see Substack allow readers to search for publications by language, so that all publications written in a particular language (other than English) would pop up. Do you have this feature in the works? Perhaps this could simply involve an improved search function for tags, with writers tagging their publications in the Writers Dashboard with the name of the language in which they are written.
This would be a great feature!!
The app is great for podcasts too! I just published one with Fengsuo Zhou, a brave man who was a student leader of the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.
Link: https://yuribezmenov.substack.com/p/tiananmen-square-fengsuo-zhou-podcast-interview#details
I'm a writer who never uses apps for anything (I hate doing any kind of meaningful or thoughtful work on my phone, and I don't like to be a slave to my devices any more than I already am), but I appreciate the careful, thoughtful nature in which this app has been included.
3/4ths my readers read on email and the ones I’ve had contact with have no idea what Substack is and don’t want to download the app...not sure how to attract more readers on the app?
I don't know if we (writers) need to have a specific strategy for the app itself. I mean, the desktop version of the substack site works well. I do think it's worth spending some time reading, commenting, and generally interacting with other writers, so readers eventually discover you, but I don't think it matters if they're on a website or in an app, as such.
many of my readers don't even use the app or desktop site. They just signed up via my website or social. I've had contact with some of them and they don't want to use either!
I think there's no need to encourage them to download an app or anything, but I do enjoy asking folks to comment. I just want to have a good conversation with them; maybe that's a good middle-of-the-road approach for you?
Apple only make the app available if you have an iphone or a tablet
and Apple only make the app available if you have an iphone or a tablet
I'm with you on that. I use my "pages" and write on that, then I copy and paste it to my substack page. I don't have a phone, and don't feel I need one. I don't know if it's because I'm not very "techie", or if it's because it doesn't fit with my character. Maybe it's because I'm just old and see no need to change? I started writing stories in notebooks until I could afford to buy my own typewriter. Then I got an electric typewriter. When I got my first PC I thought: "This is it." The fact I can do all my research on my PC, and write on my 'Pages' program is good enough for me. If people want to read on their phones and download the app for that, that's great. All I do is hit the send button and don't think about it after that. I didn't have a large email list, now I have 260'ish readers. I'm good with that. I'm happy to let my 'Stack send it out and not have to worry about it.
Me too. But if it is working for readers then that's great.
Completely agree! I know many folks who are intelligent (the folks I want to reach) use their devices way differently than I do, and I won't let my early-onset-boomerism get in the way of connecting.
OMG - 'early-onset-boomerism'! You crack me up. Yes me too!
I guess I fit into that category as well!
me too, Andrew 🙏🏼
I've really wnjoyed engaging with readers through the app and notes
Hi there! I adore the app! Would be so pleased to see dashboard and edit functionality on it for writers one day! As a parent to three small kids, I'm not always able to be glued to my desk, but I do sometimes have free time while out and about to check in on work/writing and would love to be able to do that on the go!
The app has been a terrific driver of traffic and new subscribers for me. After about 50 posts and nearly six months, I am nearing the point of converting pledges to paid subscribers. Loving the Substack culture and ecosystem!
I agree, Matt. I literally just started a week ago and subscribers are flocking. Mind you, some have come from Medium where I also write but I'm tracking the ones coming from the app and I'm pleasantly surprised.
Thank you.
Substack is now my home.
Feel good to feel supported.
When searching for publications and authors I find the search results don't always pull up what I've typed. Is there a filter tab that could help narrow down a search based on author name, publication name, category of content?
Also when subscribing to a new publication, the recommended publications pop up to subscribe as well but I'm not inclined to subscribe to newsletters I know nothing about.
Is there a way to add the bio under each recommendation?
If I knew more I might subscribe but not because a new author I found recommends.
Just some thoughts.
Also, I am looking to possibly going the paid route and I see monthly yearly and one time payment options but is there a way to donate any amount? Like a non profit option? Or even bi-annually?
Or what about membership for substack monthly that allows for say, 3 publications and then add-ons kind of like Audible...
Again, just thoughts.
Substack App + Notes = time warp
Not sure what the percentage of writers to readers (who don't have a Substack) is, but I'd like to have some suggestions from the Substack team about how we, as writers, can help bring more readers to Notes. I know we can invite our subscribers. It would be awesome to have some 'marketing speak' to share with subscribers that explained the value of joining Notes, how they can do it, and what they could do once they get there. I'd like to invite my readers gradually, over the course of several of my posts, by creating some value that would entice them to join, rather than simply sending them all an email asking them to sign in to Notes. Not sure if I'm explaining that right, but hopefully you get the idea. It seems to me that more readers on Notes will help continue to make it more viable and exciting. I believe that we would all want to help.
I am super new to the platform (about 1 month in with 26 subscribers) and love the app. I’ve found most of the people I’ve subscribed to so far through it.
I messaged a few friends when I started substack. One texted me this morning just to say how much she loves the app and the way it is set up.
So thank you to the powers that be for creating it.